Multisection hollow post construction



June 23, 1970 J, J, GALLQWAY 3,516,216

MULTI'SECTION HALLOW POST CONSTRUCTION Filed May 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet3 E25 IKE-=5 &f

JOA/A/ 1 652.4 owm United States Patent 3,516,216 MULTISECTION HOLLOWPOST CONSTRUCTION John J. Galloway, Grand Blanc, Mich., assignor to TheEngineered Products Company, Flint, Mich., a corporation of MichiganFiled May 3, 1968, Ser. No. 726,504 Int. Cl. E0411 2/62; E04c 3/32 U.S.Cl. 52731 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multiple section hollowcolumn or post for supporting panel members and the like. Thelongitudinal sections forming the hollow post each have lug means on theexterior of the sections which engage and interlock with channelsections to form a self-supporting column or post. One or more of thechannel sections is adapted to engage and support the edge of a panelmember.

This invention relates to supporting columns or posts and moreparticularly to a hollow post formed from multiple interlockingsections.

In constructing glass panel partitions for counter tops and the like, itis usually necessary to provide several different types of panel supportposts due to the various positions the panel members assume relative tothe posts and depending on whether the post is an end post, corner post,intermediate post, etc. This requires the manufacturer and also theassembler of the panel members to carry a relatively large inventory ofsupport posts.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a post which can bereadily adapted to support panel members engaging the post at variouspositions about the periphery of the post.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post adapted to supportpanel members at various peripheral positions which can be fabricatedand assembled from a. few standardized sections, thereby reducing theinventory requirements of the manufacturer and assembler.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post to support panelmembers at various peripheral positions which can be economicallyassembled from a few standardized sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a post adaptable tosupport panel members at various peripheral positions having a fewstandardized sections which can be economically manufactured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple section postconstruction the sections of which can be manufactured by piercing,shearing, and extrusion processes rather than machining processes andhence of economical construction.

Other objects and features of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description which discloses the manner and process of makingand using the invention in the best mode contemplated by the inventor ofcarrying out this invention.

In brief, the post of this invention is formed from a plurality ofchannel-shaped sections assembled to form a hollow column. Lockingchannel-shaped sections engage and interlock with lugs along the freeedges of the post sections to provide a self-supporting post. Thelocking channel sections can be shaped to support a panel member.

Drawings accompany this disclosure and the various views thereof may bedescribed as:

FIG. 1, a side elevational view of four posts each supporting a panelmember or members at different peripheral positions on each of theposts.

FIG. 2, a sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3, a sectional viewon line 33 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4, a sectional view on line 44 of FIG. 1.FIG. 5, a sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6, a sectional viewon line 6-6 of FIG. 9. FIG. 7, a sectional view on line 77 of FIG. 9.FIG. 8, a sectional view on line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9, a vertical sectional view of a post according to the presentinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a partition comprising a plurality ofposts designated generally as each with a cap 22 and a base plate 24resting on a support such as .a counter top 26 and supporting panelmembers 28.

As shown in FIG. 2, when post 20 supports a single panel member 28 it isformed as a hollow column from two channel sections 30. Each channelsection 30 is generally U-shaped with side walls 32 terminating in freeedges 34. On the interior of each side wall 32 adjacent free edge 34 isa tab 35 forming a groove 37 which provides a mounting tab for base 24as more fully explained hereinafter. On the exterior of each side wall32 adjacent free edge 34 is a lug 36 which forms a reentrant groove 38.Channels 40, 41 with inwardly facing opposed ribs 42 engage reentrantgrooves 38 to interlock with U- shaped sections 30 to formaself-supporting post. Locking channels 40, 41 preferably extend the fulllength of U-shaped sections 30 to cover and conceal the crack betweenfree edges 34. Likewise, lugs 36 preferably extend the full length ofchannels 30 to provide maximum surface area contact between lockingchannels 40, 41 and U-shaped sections 30 for improved lockingcharacteristics. Channel 41 is provided with flanges 44 which form agroove 46 to engage and support panel member 28, which for example maybe a glass partition panel. As shown in FIG. 3, when post '20 is used tosupport two panel members 28 which are in line with each other twochannels 41 are employed to look the two sections 30 together.

In FIG. 4, four generally V-shaped channel sections 48 withlongitudinally extending and perpendicularly related side Walls 50terminating in free edges 52 are interlocked by locking channels 41 toform a post 20 supporting four panel members 28. Each V-shaped section48 is formed with a mounting tab 35 on the interior and a lug 36 on theexterior surface of each side wall 50 adjacent free edge 52. Lugs 36form reentrant grooves 38 which engage and interlock with ribs 42 oflocking channels 41 to provide a self-supporting post 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, one generally U-shaped section 30 can be assembledwith two generally V-shaped sections 48 interlocked with one lockingchannel 40 and two locking channels 41 to form a post 20 for supportingtwo panel members 28 at a right angle to each other. Posts 20 of bothFIGS. 4 and 5 ca nalso be used to support three panel members 28 byusing three looking channels 41.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, base plate 24 is attached to the bottom ofpost 20 by self-tapping screws 54. Screws 54 extend upwardly throughbase plate 24 and engage the socket formed by opposed grooves 37 ininwardly extending mounting tabs 35 on sections 30 and 48; Lockingchannels 40, 41 and post sections 30, 48 rest on the top face of baseplate 24 and panel members 28 extend through a slot 58 in base plate 24to rest on support 26. Screws 54 also serve to urge post sections 30, 48laterally away from each other and thus securely engage and interlockwith locking channels 40, 41. Base plate 24 is mounted on support 26 byscrews 56.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, cap 22 is provided with depending fingers60 which slidably engage the inner faces of the side walls of postsections 30, 48. Fingers 60 are positioned on cap 22 so that there is aslight interference fit between fingers 60 and the inner faces of postsections 30, 48. A chamfer =62 is provided on fingers 60 to facilitatethe entry of fingers 60 into post 20. This interference fit also urgespost sections 30, 48 into a secure interlocking engagement with lockingchannels 40, 41. Preferably, post sections 48 and lockingchannels 40, 41are formed so that there is a slight clearance 64 (FIG. 7) between thefree edges of the post sections when the post sections and the lockingchannels are assembled in interlocking engagement. The slight clearanceallows the post sections and the locking channels to be readilyassembled and aligned before screws 54 and cap 22 are attached to thepost sections to urge the sections into interlocking engagement.

It will be observed that the only types of sections required for thediiferent post constructions illustrated are generally U-shaped sections30, generally V-shaped sections 48, locking channels 40 and lockingchannels 41. When lugs 36 and base mounting tabs extend longitudinallythe entire length of the post sections, all of the components can beextruded from a metal such as aluminum which is relatively inexpensivewhen compared with machining operations. Hence the multiple section post20 can be economically manufactured and assembled from a few standard,relatively inexpensive channel sections.

I claim:

1. A multiple section post comprising a plurality of channel sectionseach having a pair of side walls terminating in longitudinal free edges,said sections being assembled with said free edges of the side wallsjuxtaposed to form a hollow column, lug means on the outer face of eachside wall adjacent the free edge thereof, channel-shaped locking membersoverlying the joint between said free edges and engaging said lug meansfor locking said sections together, mean forming an inward projec tionadjacent the free edges of each side wall, the projections adjacentjuxtaposed free edges forming a socket therebetween and means extendinginto said sockets and tending to enlarge the sockets to thereby urge thechannel sections into interlocking engagement with said locking members.

2. A multiple section post comprising a plurality of channel sectionseach having a pair of side walls terminating in free longitudinal edges,one of said sections comprising a generally U-shaped channel sectionhaving a base and two integral, longitudinally-extending and generallyparallel spaced side walls projecting from said base, two of saidsections comprising generally V-shaped channel sections each having twointegral longitudinallyextending side walls disposed at substantially aright angle to each other, said three sections being assembled with saidfree edges of the side walls juxtaposed to form a hollow column, lugmeans on the outer face of each side wall adjacent the free edgethereof, channel-shaped locking members overlying the joint between saidfree edges and engaging said lug means for locking said sectionstogether and means within said column urging said channel sections andsaid locking members into interlocking engagement.

3. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 in which there are twogenerally U-shaped channel sections each having a base and two integral,generally parallel, longitudinally extending, spaced side Wallsprojecting from one face of said base.

4. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 in which there are fourgenerally V-shaped channel sections each having two integrallongitudinally extending side walls at substantially a right angle toeach other.

5. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 in which said lug meansis an integral, longitudinally extending protrusion forming a groove theopen side of which faces away from its associated free edge, saidlocking sections each having two integral, laterally spaced,longitudinally extending, opposed ribs projecting into said grooves forinterlocking engagement therewith.

6. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 having a base plateclosing one end of said column, said lastmentioned means comprisingscrews extending through said base plate and securing said base plate tosaid end of the column.

7. A multiple section post as defined in claim 6 wherein said base plateextends outwardly beyond the side walls of said channel sections, theoutwardly extending portion of said base plate having openings thereinto receive fastening elements for mounting said columns on a support.

8. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 Wherein saidlast-mentioned means comprises screws.

9. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 wherein saidlast-mentioned mean comprises screws extending axially into said socketsfrom one end thereof.

10. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 wherein at least oneof said locking members includes a pair of spaced apart flangesextending parallel to said free edges and adapted to receive a panelmember therebetween.

11. A multiple section post as defined in claim 10 wherein another ofsaid locking members comprises a generally U-shaped channel having sidewalls with inwardly turned free edges engaging said lug means and havinga base wall interconnecting the side walls of the locking channel andoverlying the joint between the free edges of the channel sections.

12. A multiple section post as defined in claim 1 wherein one of saidsections comprises a generally U-shaped channel section having a baseand two integral, longitudinally-extending, generally parallel spacedside walls projecting from one face of said base and two of saidsections comprise generally V-shaped channel sections each having twointegral longitudinally-extending side walls disposed substantially at aright angle to each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,655 8/1899 Noble 527311,219,208 3/1917 Zahner et al. 52238 3,276,182 10/1966 Handley 52-7313,312,034 4/ 1967 Steinmann 52731 3,349,532 10/1967 Dudotf 52238 X3,358,410 12/1967 Dawdy et al 52-282 X PRICE C. FAW, J 11., PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

